Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09091997 - C89 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra 1 . FROM: John Cullen, Director '' Costa Social Service Department Z -'s County DATE: �orrq-cduK`{'i �Pv August 11, 1997 SUBJECT: APPROVE and AUTHORIZE 1997/98 County Plan for Refugee Services and the Renewal of implementing contracts. SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: I. APPROVE the 1997/98 County Plan for Refugee Services. II. AUTHORIZE the Director of Social Service, or designee, to accept Federal Refugee Program funding and execute State agreements as follows: Funding Program Anticipated Source Period Funding Amt. Refugee Employment Social Services (RESS) 10/1/97 - 9/30/98 $99,109 III. AUTHORIZE the Social Service Director, or designee, to prepare and execute amend- ments of the County Plan to accommodate subsequent increased funding allocation or ad- justments as they are received, on the condition that no general funds are required. (continued on back side) CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON_� ISpBdd L{ 9 R ( APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VdTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE _26UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. cc:Cont.act: Robert Hofmann 31.3-1593 ATTESTED r -2- Q 1917 SOCIAL SERVICE (CONTRACTS UNIT) PHIL BAT ELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AMITOR-CONTROLLER COiVI'.RACTOR • M382 (10/88) BY DEPUTY III. AUTHORIZE the Social Service Director, or designee to enter into continuing contracts with the following service contractors; CONTRACTOR SERVICE AMOUNT CCC Office of Employment Services Education, ROP (Central/East Region) $39,240 RCA Case Management 3,985 Supportive Services 1,788 Lao Family Community Employment Services (West Region) $39,240 FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funding for all of the above is from the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement. No County funds are involved. The allocation for RESS 1997/1998 is $99,109 per a final allocation letter from the State Refugee Program Bureau dated 7/18/97. BACKGROUND: The Board, on March 20, 1984, designated the Social Service Department as the agency responsi- ble for planning and writing County Plans for Refugee programs funded by Federal Targeted Assistance (TA) services. Additionally, the Board resolved on November 10, 1987 that the De- partment would be responsible for administering the Refugee Employment Social Services (RESS) Program when RESS management responsibilities were transferred from the State to the County effective July 1, 1988. Beginning with FFY 1996/97, the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) changed its allocation methodology to favor areas where newcomer refugees are settling. Consequently, Contra Costa is no longer eligible to receive TA funding and it is anticipated that FFY 1997/98 will be the final year of RESS funding. To receive RESS funds, Contra Costa County is submitting the present County Plan to the State Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB) for their approval. This County Plan was prepared according to guidelines issued by RPB and with input from the Refugee Services Advisory Council and from members of the community at a Public Hearing. Since refugee programs in Contra Costa are in the process of being phased out, and in the interest of maintaining stability and continuity of services for refugees already enrolled in programs, the Plan calls for extending contracts with current providers of Employment Services rather than go through a competitive bid process. Both of the above service providers won their contracts through a competitive bid process in August, 1995. They are both performing well and have the capability and willingness to continue programs through FFY 1997/98. Attached is the Executive Summary of the 1997/98 Refugee Services County Plan. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY C OUNT Y PLAN FOR REFUGE E S ERV=C E S 1 9 9 7/1 9 9 8 Contra Costa County has an estimated refugee population of 15,000 persons, and approximately 5,000 of them are receiving some type of Public Assistance. Because of this, Contra Costa is one of 12 California counties designated by the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) as being "impacted" by refugee resettlement. As an impacted county, Contra Costa has been receiving federal funds since 1984 to provide services to its refugee residents. Services are intended to help refugees acculturate quickly, find jobs as soon as possible after their arrival in the United States, and avoid protracted use of public welfare programs. The anticipated county allocation this year from the federal Refugee Employment Social Services (RESS) Program is $113 ,570, a 41% reduction in funding from FY 1996/97. In all probability, Contra Costa will not have a large enough refugee population next year to qualify for continued funding. . Consequently, it is anticipated that FY 1997/98 will be the final year RESS funds will be available. Acknowledging this financial reality, the Refugee Services Advisory Council's major task this year was to design a phase out plan which would accomplish the following three goals: 1. To preserve basic employment services with reduced funds 2 . To transition as many refugees as possible into the labor market 3 . To prepare refugees to utilize mainstream services by the end of the year when specialized programs are no longer available. The Refugee Services Advisory Council is made up of 9 knowledgeable, individuals who have been meeting and developing County .Plans for several years. The Advisory Council makes funding recommendations to the Social Service Department. Director who, in turn, requests approval of the County Plans by the Board of Supervisors. The Advisory Council is composed of representatives from refugee organizations, public and private agencies involved in refugee resettlement, and local labor and business groups such as the Employment Development Department (EDD) and the Private Industry Council (PIC) . Since funds under consideration are minimal and options are limited, the Advisory Council completed the planning process in one meeting. The Council met on June 25, 1997 in Richmond and a Public Hearing was held on the same night. All of the speakers at the Public Hearing spoke in favor of the plan although they expressed regret over cutbacks in programs caused by the reduction in funding. Based upon the Advisory Council's recommendations and testimony obtained at the Public Hearing, the Social Service Department Director recommends- that the following programs be funded with RESS funds: Revised 8/1/97 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Page 2 COUNTY PLAN FOR RESS SERVICES 1997/98 REFUGEE EMPLOYMENT SOCIAL SERVICES, (10/1/97 - 9/30/98) Final Allocation $ 99,109 Less County Administration (15%) 14 ,866 .Total available for Direct Services: $ 84,243 1997/98 RESS SERVICES PROGRAMS: COMPONENT CONTRACTOR CONTRACT EXTENSION AMOUNT Employment Services County Office of $39,240 Central/East Educ. - ROP RCA Case Management County Office of. 3 ,985 Educ. - ROP RCA Support Serv. County Office of 1 ,788 . Educ. - ROP Employment Services Lao Family 39 , 240 West County Community Develop. . Inc. Total $ 84,243 The Advisory Council feels that the above plan fulfills the three goals set forth in the planning guidelines. Since this is a phase out plan, service providers will not be selected through the usual competitive bid process. Rather, since existing contractors are performing well according to the County's last monitoring review, current service contracts will be amended and extended until September 30, 1998.